VACCINATIONS against COVID-19 have been taking place in care homes this week, as the major immunisation programme continues to expand.
Residents and staff at Abbey Gardens in Dumfries were among those to receive vaccinations on Monday, as the programme quickly expanded out into care homes within the region.
Meanwhile, frontline clinical staff are continuing to receive their jabs as part of campaign rapidly scaling up to deliver hundreds of vaccinations every week.
Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership Chief Officer Julie White said: “It’s fantastic to see care home residents and staff now starting to receive this vaccine.
“Care homes are particularly vulnerable to the effects of COVID, so the protection that the vaccine will offer in just a few weeks will be a huge comfort to residents and their families, and to the staff who work so hard to help them and keep them safe.
“However, COVID-19 continues to pose a risk to everyone, and that is why it is so important that we continue to follow the directions aimed at guarding against the coronavirus, and that everyone eligible takes up the offer of a vaccine when presented.
“We’d continue to ask that people don’t get in touch to enquire about the vaccine, as all those identified by the Scottish Government to receive the vaccine in the first cohort will be contacted directly.”
As the vaccine now arrives into care homes, vaccination is continuing to be provided to frontline clinical staff.
Those vaccinations have initially been taking place at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, which has the facility to store the vaccine at required temperatures of -70 degrees Celsius. However, from this Friday December 18, vaccinations will also begin at Galloway Community Hospital in Stranraer.
A significant scaling up of the programme is moving forward, with the hope that the majority of frontline staff will have received their first vaccination before the end of the month, with a second vaccination required at 28 days.
Updates will be provided as the campaign continues to expand in line with Scottish Government directions.
Julie White said: “While we appreciate people are interested to know when vaccines will be provided to everyone, we ask that they do not contact their GP or the NHS. The first recipients, as set out by the Scottish Government, are frontline health and social care staff, care home residents and over 80s. Everyone in these categories will be contacted directly.
“Continuing to follow national guidance continues to be crucial. We ask that, until widespread immunity is established across Dumfries and Galloway, everyone continues to follow the national rules and guidance in relation to face coverings, hand hygiene, physical distancing and interaction and self-isolating and arranging a test if symptomatic.
“Although this year has often been confusing, please also continue to be assured of the process that has led to us being at this point of having the vaccine – scientists working away quietly in the background to create vaccines which offer the best protection against COVID, and which are now being put into use around the world.”
A national helpline for questions around COVID-19 vaccinations has now been established, and can be phoned between 8 am and 8 pm seven days a week on 0800 030 8013.
